A Guide to the Giant Sequoias of Yosemite National Park (1949) by James W. McFarland

THE THREE GIANT SEQUOIAS GROVES

The Tuolumne Grove is located
near Crane Flat on the Big Oak
Flat Road, the northwest entrance
to Yosemite National Park. A small
grove of about 25 large specimens,
covering some 20 acres, it includes
the Dead Giant which is 29 1/2 feet
in diameter at the base. In 1878 a
tunnel was cut through the Dead
Giant so that a road then in use
passed through it. Although trees
of the Tuolumne Grove were perhaps
first seen by members of the
Joseph Walker Expedition in 1833,
it was effectively discovered May
10, 1858, by a party from Garrote,
California, Dr. J. L. Cogswell and
eight friends. They named the snag,
now known as the Dead Giant,
“King Solomon’s Temple.”

Located four miles south of the
Tuolumne Grove, the Merced
Grove is the least accessible of the
three groves of giant sequoias in
Yosemite National Park. It consists
of approximately 20 large trees. It
can be reached from the Crane Flat
Ranger Station.

Largest of the three and perhaps
the most famous of all is the
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It
consists of no less than 200 trees
10 feet or more in diameter and
thousands of younger trees. It is
located in the southwest corner of
the park, 35 miles by highway from

The Twins: Two symmetrical trees
about 250-280 feet high in the Tuolumne
Grove.

Yosemite Valley. There one may
see the Grizzly Giant, nearly 100
feet around and estimated to be
3,800 years old; drive through the
Wawona (“tunnel”) Tree; walk
along the trunk of the fallen
Massachusetts Tree; lunch on the
outdoor terrace at Big Trees Lodge;
visit the Mariposa Grove Museum;
and enjoy the inspiring view from
Wawona Point.2
[2
See pages 70-88 for self-guiding auto tour
and detailed description of Mariposa Grove.]

Since human history in the
groves of giant sequoias in
Yosemite National Park has been
coincident with so much of American
history, many of the individual
trees have historical names. Others
have names that are descriptive of
the tree’s characteristics, as the
Corridor Tree and the Telescope
Tree. Many bear the names of famous
men, cities and states of our
country. At one time conspicuous
signs were posted, naming each
large tree. This was found to be a
mistake in view of the incorrigible
souvenir collecting instinct of
many visitors. Now most of the
signs have been removed, thus preserving
their natural beauty and
discouraging mutilation of the
trees by souvenir hunters. Perhaps
the most satisfactory souvenir
which can be taken with you is a
photograph which you, yourself,
have taken of these natural
wonders.